Fried mushrooms are well worth the effort, with their savory flavor, crispy exteriors, and soft insides — that is, if they’re done correctly. Frying mushrooms is a delicate process that requires plenty of precision, especially when it comes to the temperature of your oil, so it’s crucial to understand how to properly heat up your cooking vessel.

To fry mushrooms, heat up your oil between 325 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which will make your mushrooms crispy and well-cooked without veering towards burnt or undercooked. In oil that’s too hot, mushrooms can burn, and in oil that’s not hot enough, they could come out a little too soft or even soggy due to oil absorption.

For an even more precise temperature range that will give you perfectly fried mushrooms, try heating your oil between 350 and 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to measure your oil temp, and once you learn to master the art of frying mushrooms, you can get experimental with more complex and delicious recipes.